Tinned sardines are an icon of Portugal. We visit a family-run shop and one of the country’s last artisanal canneries to discover why sardines are cherished by the Portuguese, how the industry started back with Napoleon and what is driving the revival of canned fish. Discover more from the country with Portugal: The Monocle Handbook.

Tinned sardines are an icon of Portugal. We visit a family-run shop and one of the country’s last artisanal canneries to discover why sardines are cherished by the Portuguese, how the industry started back with Napoleon and what is driving the revival of canned fish. Discover more from the country with <a href="https://monocle.com/shop/product/2227005/portugal-the-monocle-handbook/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Portugal: The Monocle Handbook.</a>

Inside Portugal’s tinned-fish industry

Located in the northwestern corner of the Scottish Highlands, Gairloch is a coastal village of about 700 people that is known for its mountains, sea loch and rugged landscape. Monocle paid a visit to Two Lochs, reportedly Britain’s smallest commercial radio station, which is nestled on Gairloch’s shores, run by a handful of volunteers and has built a loyal fanbase of global listeners.

Outpost News: Britain’s smallest radio station

Peris Costumes is the world’s largest company dedicated to selling and renting costumes for film, stocking more than 10 million garments. Monocle took a peek behind the scenes of its Madrid-based HQ to meet its artisans and see how the industry is booming, thanks to the rise of streaming platforms.

Inside the world’s largest costume company

Finland is a swimmer’s paradise and residents take to the water year-round. In colder months the practice often involves carving a hole into ice – a demonstration of “sisu”, the unique Finnish concept of fortitude in the face of adversity. Monocle joins journalist Katja Pantzar on an icy dip, to explore the mindset that dates back more than 500 years. Discover more stories and ideas from the region with ‘The Monocle Book of the Nordics’, available now from The Monocle Shop.

Finland is a swimmer’s paradise and residents take to the water year-round. In colder months the practice often involves carving a hole into ice – a demonstration of “sisu”, the unique Finnish concept of fortitude in the face of adversity. Monocle joins journalist Katja Pantzar on an icy dip, to explore the mindset that dates back more than 500 years. Discover more stories and ideas from the region with ‘The Monocle Book of the Nordics’, available now from <a href="https://monocle.com/shop/product/2066359/the-monocle-book-of-the-nordics/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Monocle Shop.</a>

Sisu: The art of Finnish fortitude

We hit the road with journalist Egill Bjarnason, finding the best spots to grab a cone on a journey into the Icelandic custom of ‘ísbíltúr’. It’s one of many Nordic lifestyle concepts that can teach us a thing or two about how to achieve a better quality of life. Discover more stories and ideas from the region with ‘The Monocle Book of the Nordics’, available now from The Monocle Shop.

We hit the road with journalist Egill Bjarnason, finding the best spots to grab a cone on a journey into the Icelandic custom of ‘ísbíltúr’. It’s one of many Nordic lifestyle concepts that can teach us a thing or two about how to achieve a better quality of life. Discover more stories and ideas from the region with ‘The Monocle Book of the Nordics’, <a href="https://monocle.com/shop/product/2066359/the-monocle-book-of-the-nordics/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">available now from The Monocle Shop.</a>

Ísbíltúr: Iceland’s ice-cream road trips

Nestled in the heart of the Aegean, the island of Ikaria used to be a secluded spot with a humble and unhurried way of life. Today, a third of the island's population lives to be more than 90 years old. We venture to the local kafeneios, wild beaches and abundant allotments to meet the bronzed seniors.

Why Greeks live longer

From gallerists to artists, collectors to auctioneers, we check in with industry players to find why – digital innovations or not – seeing art in real life matters, how the past year has shaken up the market and what exhibitions you should add to a calendar that’s filling up nicely.

The 2021 Monocle Art Survey

Despite the ubiquity of digital effects in cinema, Berlin’s Studio Babelsberg has preserved the craft of prop making. Its lifelike items continue to appear in some of the biggest movies today. We inspect the studio’s stunning hand-built sets and its museum-like archives.

Studio Babelsberg: reel deal

We visit two bold companies finding canny ways to pivot their product for changing audiences. Transhelvetica, a Swiss magazine, and Spiritland, a London-based hospitality and audio venture, are each shaping the media landscape for the better.

Media on the move

In the second report from this year’s Venice Biennale, we head to the national pavilions to meet the artists and curators who are raising their countries’ profiles on the world stage.

Venice Biennale: art of nationhood

We hand pick the very best in music, art, theatre, media, books and film from every corner of the globe.

We sit down with Ralph Rugoff, the artistic director of 2019’s Venice Biennale, to round up the highlights of this year’s event.

Venice Biennale: best in show

Monocle Films pays a visit to a restoration firm that has saved pieces by artists as diverse as Caravaggio and John Kirby.

The art of restoration

We travel to Mipcom, the annual tradeshow in Cannes, to meet the movers and shakers defining the future of the film and television industry.

Mipcom: screen grab

How do you unpack stories in the most engaging way while building a credible and comprehensive brand? Monocle Films showcases best design for paper and screen too.

Designing the news

Hauser &amp; Wirth is an international art gallery with its heart in the countryside. We visit its premises in Somerset to review a weird and wonderful show that looks at our relationship with the land.

Somerset’s strange fruit

In the latest episode of our ‘Secret to...’ series, Alexander Gilkes, co-founder of online auction house Paddle8, unveils the alchemy that surrounds the world of collecting art.

The secret to buying a painting

This contemporary art exhibition opened in Athens this year, as well as its home town of Kassel in Germany. It features artwork and performances from global artists about boundaries, displacement and the relationship between Greece and Germany.

Documenta 14

Set in a glittering archipelago, Stockholm is one of our favourite summer getaways. Monocle's travel guide will help you locate Stockholm’s best hotels and most delectable restaurants, and show you what else to discover tucked away from the Swedish capital’s charming waterfront. Published by Gestalten, The Monocle Travel Guide to Stockholm is available now at The Monocle Shop.

Set in a glittering archipelago, Stockholm is one of our favourite summer getaways. Monocle's travel guide will help you locate Stockholm’s best hotels and most delectable restaurants, and show you what else to discover tucked away from the Swedish capital’s charming waterfront. Published by Gestalten, The Monocle Travel Guide to Stockholm is available now at <a href="https://monocle.com/shop/books/travel-guides/the-monocle-travel-guide-stockholm/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Monocle Shop</a>.

Stockholm: The Monocle Travel Guide Series

The Czech National Symphony Orchestra has struck an international chord, with its redoubtable musicianship attracting big-name pop and music-score clients from Ennio Morricone to Sting.

Sound of Prague

Wonderfruit is a festival like no other; a beacon of peace and calm where hedonism takes a backseat. Time to ditch the city attitude, grab a yoga mat and watch the sun go down in the Thai countryside.

Wonderfruit: Thailand's blissed-out party

I am totally impressed by the content of this podcast, truly surprised most people haven&#39;t checked it out yet

Monacle is dope!

Charming British accent.  The Fuji Rock Festival report was especially good, right length too.  The news media event went on a bit long as editors explained at length how &#34;the internets&#34; were not going to steal their jobs, didn&#39;t like that one so much.  But overall, a quality production with a careful touch.

Clever, well produced

Films — Culture

What’s the future of media? We take a look into the art of original reporting and see why we devour stories in different ways.

The power of journalism

Monocle's first media summit looked at the most influential brands shaping the media landscape and asked whether there is still money to be made from print. Here's our pick of the evening's highlights.    Book your ticket for the second annual Monocle Media Summit.

Monocle's first media summit looked at the most influential brands shaping the media landscape and asked whether there is still money to be made from print. Here's our pick of the evening's highlights. <a href="https://monocle.com/shop/events/other/the-monocle-media-summit-2018/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Book your ticket</a> for the second annual Monocle Media Summit.

Monocle Media Summit

For a long time Berlin lacked the wealth and stability of other capital cities so ingenuity prevailed. It's now known as a place where creativity is fostered, resourcefulness encouraged and originality embraced. Published by Gestalten, The Monocle Travel Guide to Berlin is available now at The Monocle Shop.

For a long time Berlin lacked the wealth and stability of other capital cities so ingenuity prevailed. It's now known as a place where creativity is fostered, resourcefulness encouraged and originality embraced. Published by Gestalten, The Monocle Travel Guide to Berlin is available now at <a href="https://monocle.com/shop/books/travel-guides/the-monocle-travel-guide-berlin/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Monocle Shop</a>.

Berlin: The Monocle Travel Guide

Dubbed the new Berlin, Leipzig is home to an increasing number of galleries and project spaces – but the city still has lots of space for inexpensive artists’ ateliers.

Leipzig’s artist studios

From design to art, magazines to furniture, we all know the pleasure of collecting. But how do we ensure that passion beats pure investment? This was the question that Robert Bound posed to the speakers at this year’s Quality of Life Conference in Vienna.

Time to collect

Cruise

From glitzy dance numbers and well-loved show tunes to conga lines, entertainment is key to cruising success. Monocle's Robert Bound grabs a lounger and joins in the fun.

Cruise-ship entertainers

With the success of Pixar came an avalanche of computer-generated animation but not all animators are following the hi-tech pack. Monocle Films travels to the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and southern England in search of storytellers who think outside the computer box.

New-generation animators

Singapore is not used to letting people do whatever they want and thus it has been stuck with a moribund art scene. But the opening of the new National Gallery aims to change perceptions of the city-state both at home and abroad; Monocle takes a look at a fast-emerging art scene.

Portrait of a Nation

The best self improvement podcast episodes. From improving productivity, to finding purpose in your life to what constitutes freedom, this topic is on anything and everything that can help people to improve their lives. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes on Self Improvement, Growth & Development

The best philosophy podcast episodes. Asking questions about how to live a better life, what it means to be and do good, to the idea of God. This topic includes episodes that bring about important questions that everyone should be asking themselves. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!